Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

Features, Fundraising, Headline, Homepage, News Blog

CBLDF Raises Over $12,500 at NYCC!

by Betsy Gomez • October 19, 2011

Last weekend, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund raised over $12,500 at New York Comic Con!

The CBLDF booth hosted a number of creators throughout the weekend, including Francis Portela (Legion of Super-heroes) and Fernando Blanco (Marvel Zombies), Sara Varon, signing her new graphic novel Bake Sale from First Second Books, CBLDF President and Beanworld cartoonist Larry Marder, and a special appearance from Mark Twain himself (Michael Kupperman), signing his new autobiography from Fantagraphics.

Keep reading…

CBLDF urgently needs to raise $100,000 for our important First Amendment work by the end of October! Be Counted and support CBLDF’s First Amendment legal work by bidding on original artwork, making a donation, or becoming a member of the CBLDF!

Features, Homepage, News Blog

Anime News Network Covers CBLDF’s Defending Manga Panel at NYCC

by Betsy Gomez • October 17, 2011

Over the weekend, Crystalyn Hodgkins from Anime News Network wrote about the CBLDF: Defending Manga panel from NYCC. CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein was joined by ALC Publishing’s Erica Friedman and about.com’s Deb Aoki for an informative panel about CBLDF’s history of defending manga — including the Jesus Castillo case, the Handley case, and the current Canada Customs Case — and why manga is frequently a target of censors. Aoki described why the latter often happens:

Aoki added that while many in the audience may be used to the manga style, people who aren’t familiar with manga would see many manga characters and think they looked like children, or younger than they really are. Brownstein also added that it is important to reach out to people to educate them about the manga style so as to help them to understand the style. Aoki also added that many of those who aren’t familiar with manga assume it’s hentai and perverted, and it’s important to educate people so they don’t have that stereotype.

You can read the full article here.

Features, Fundraising, Headline, Homepage, News Blog, Press Releases

Camilla d’Errico and Joshua Dysart Announce ‘Helmetgirls: Origins’ Guest Artists and CBLDF Benefit

by Betsy Gomez • October 16, 2011

At NYCC today, Camilla d’Errico and Joshua Dysart announced the guest artists for the Helmetgirls: Origins, a series based on d’Errico’s popular artwork. Because of the success of the Kickstarter campaign for d’Errico’s Tanpopo, d’Errico and Dysart are going to run a similar campaign for Helmetgirls. They are also going to contribute a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Helmetgirls to CBLDF!

Keep reading for more details in the official press release…

Features, Fundraising, Headline, Homepage, News Blog

CBLDF Announces Exclusive CONAN Print by Becky Cloonan for NYCC!

by Betsy Gomez • October 14, 2011

With the announcement today of writer Brian Wood and artist Becky Cloonan as the new creative team on Dark Horse Comics’ Conan, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is excited to unveil an exclusive letterpress print, available throughout New York Comic Con at CBLDF booth #1158.

This print features characters from Robert E. Howard’s “Queen of the Black Coast,” the adaptation of which forms the basis of Wood and Cloonan’s first Conan arc. The print is based on the line art of an exclusive variant cover and is being used by CBLDF for this exclusive premium item through the gracious cooperation of the Robert E. Howard Estate and Dark Horse Comics.

Signed by Wood and Cloonan, these prints come in a limited numbered run of 100, and they were hand-letterpressed by Letterpress PDX in Portland, Oregon. If you are a Conan fan, a fan of Wood and Cloonan, or simply want to support the CBLDF’s continuing fight for Free Expression, this print will be available throughout the weekend of NYCC, October 14-16, for a $50 donation. Visit CBLDF at booth #1158 to pick up yours!

(Conan (r) (c) 2011 Conan Properties International LLC (“CPI”). Conan, Conan the Barbarian, The Savage Sword of Conan, Hyboria, and related logos, characters, names, and distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks are trademarks or registered trademarks of CPI. All rights reserved.)

Features, Fundraising, Headline, Homepage, News Blog

Be Counted At NYCC – Fear Itself #1 Original Art Raffle, Signings, Programs & More!

by cbldf • October 12, 2011

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund enters the fourth week of its Be Counted membership drive at New York Comic Con, where we’re bringing you some of our best incentives to join the Fund yet!

Kicking off with a Member Appreciation Party on Thursday night, a members only raffle that will award one lucky fan with Stuart Immonen’s original pencils for the Fear Itself #1 cover, an all new grab bag sponsored by HeroesCon, a massive manga giveaway at CBLDF’s Anime Artists Alley Table, three programs, and a wide array of incredible opportunities for time with top pros at the show!

If you’re attending NYCC, please visit CBLDF’s booth #1128 and Be Counted as a member. Check out our highlights below!

Features, Fundraising, Homepage, News Blog

CBLDF’s Massive Manga Giveaway At NYCC!

by cbldf • October 12, 2011

Manga is not a crime! Right now an American citizen is facing a minimum sentence of one year in a Canadian prison because customs authorities wrongly allege that horror and fantasy manga on his computer are child pornography. The CBLDF is helping him by assisting in legal strategy and by raising money to offset his legal fees, which are expected to reach $150,000.

Join the effort to defend this case by visiting the CBLDF’s table in Manga Artists Alley and signing up for membership! When you do, we’ll enter you into our Massive Manga Giveaway!

The top publishers in the manga industry, including Viz, Seven Seas, Vertical, Yen, Dark Horse, DMP, Kodansha, and ALC/Yuricon have contributed prize packages for teen and adult readers for each day of the show. Come learn about the CBLDF’s efforts to protect your freedom to read manga, and take home amazing books!

Titles include: Tenjo Tenge , Dance of the Vampire Bund, A Certain Scientific Railgun, Strawberry Panic! Complete Light Novel Collection , Lychee Light Club Chi’s Sweet Home , High School of the Dead , Yotsuba! WORKS, Rica ‘tte Kani!?, Yuri Monogatari, Volume 3,4,5,6, selections from CLAMP and much more!